In Amenas Situation Update

Published: January 17, 2013

BP confirms that the major security incident at the In Amenas joint venture site in Algeria is continuing. The situation on site remains unresolved and fragile. Armed groups still occupy the site and hold a number of site personnel.

BP's Chief Executive, Bob Dudley said: “BP’s overriding priority is to do all we can to ensure the safety of our staff and to support their families during this anguishing time. All our efforts are focussed on supporting the authorities to secure a peaceful resolution of the situation and the safe return of our colleagues, and all other workers being detained.”

BP has confirmed the current status of all its staff who were at In Amenas at the time of the attack. A number of BP staff are among those held on the site. To ensure we do not risk compromising the safety of these staff in any way, we do not currently intend to publicly release details of our staff members; their number, nationalities or identities. The safety of these staff, and of all others being held, is our top priority.

We are in contact with the families of those BP staff, offering them support and information. We will remain in frequent contact with the families to provide support and update them on developments.

BP is in regular contact with the Algerian authorities, with our partners at Statoil and with other companies involved in the situation.

BP is also keeping the UK government and authorities, and those of a number of other countries, advised on developments in the evolving situation and working closely with them to liaise with the Algerian authorities and further support the families.

The In Amenas gas field and its facilities are operated by a joint venture of the Algerian national oil company Sonatrach, BP and Statoil.